Morgana A Documentary Film. housewife. pornographer. artist

AU$ 45,598

561

backers

Welcome to the Morgana documentary Kickstarter. We are the filmmakers Isabel, Josie and Karina and we are raising funds for post-production for our feature documentary 'Morgana'.

This film offers a character that you have never seen before, explored in a way that you have never seen before. In a time where there is still a lack of 50+ female protagonists with a visible sexuality. 'Morgana' offers a new perspective on the importance of sexual freedom for people of all ages.

UPDATES: WE MADE OUR GOAL!

We made our goal with three days to spare.

50K will mean we can afford to create a diverse selection of creatively executed miniature scenes created by Isabel Peppard, used to poetically express Morgana’s life story, and it will also give us a safer margin for post-production costs and reward fulfillment.

60K is when we can start adding bonus stuff, like fancy up the DVD with some custom artwork for the cover and poster, a better marketing budget for when the film is complete and commissioning a song from a musician we love.

So what's it all about? On the day 47-year-old Morgana Muses decided to end her life, she took one last shot at happiness. The separated Albury housewife hired a male escort and experienced intimacy for the first time in 20 years, sparking the reinvention of herself as an erotic film star.

Longer synopsis is available at the bottom of the page, after the rewards section!

"Morgana Muses is an indie porn icon who embodies the core values a small but global community of filmmakers holds dear: fearless individualism, solid business ethics, and a joy for sexual exploration that captivates audiences everywhere." -Jiz Lee

How did this all come together? ‘Morgana’ co-directors Isabel Peppard and Josie Hess first met in 2013 at a punk gig in inner city Melbourne. Isabel had just directed a successful short animation ‘Butterflies’ and Josie was working at Monster Pictures and just beginning her career in erotica. Over beers and rants about pop culture, a friendship was born and the two began collaborating on a series of projects almost immediately.

One day Josie approached Isabel to document the 50th birthday of a female pornographer, Morgana Muses, who she was working for at the time. Morgana was to be suspended naked, in a large-scale Japanese style bondage installation and then photographed as a birthday gift to herself. After meeting Morgana and learning that only 3 years earlier she had been a housewife in the suburbs of rural Australia, Isabel and Josie became fascinated by the character and her journey, approaching Morgana to become the subject of a documentary film.

Initially, it was only going to be a short documentary, but as the story and character progressed in unexpected ways, it grew into an intense feature-length character study, which led the team from the suburbs of rural Victoria to the BDSM clubs of Berlin and beyond.

So who are we and why do we think we can do this?

We are a mixture of filmmakers, documentarians and artists (and one pornographer) each with extensive experience in our fields.

ISABEL PEPPARD Director and Co-Producer

Isabel Peppard is a multi award-winning director, animator and visual artist. Isabel’s’ most recent short animation, Butterflies, (voiced by Rachael Griffiths), has screened at over 50 international festivals including MIFF, Sitges, and Annecy and was purchased by SBS Television.In 2014 Isabel received The Directors Acclaim fund from Screen Australia, allowing her to undertake a writing/directing mentorship in LA with horror director Jennifer Lynch (Boxing Helena, Chained, The Walking Dead). In 2015, Isabels’ feature horror script, Silk, won a project award at Asia’s biggest genre market at Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival in South Korea.

JOSIE HESS Director and Co-Producer

Josie Hess is an award-winning filmmaker and pornographer. She has a Bachelor Film & TV from Swinburne and a B.A in History and Cinema Studies from Melbourne University. Her graduate film Sunroom, premiered at New York’s Blue Stocking festival in 2015. She has worked extensively in film marketing as the social media manager for boutique horror distributor Monster Pictures. Josie shoots and edits indie erotica for various studios. Her work has been screened all over the world and received numerous awards including Best Fetish Film at the 2017 Toronto Porn Awards. She is currently producing The Grave of Saint Oran, an animation based on a poem by Neil Gaiman.

KARINA ASTRUP Producer

Karina Astrup is an independent producer and company director of House of Gary. Her debut film – 6ft Hick: notes from the underground, about a Brisbane based indie punk band, was financed and broadcast through ABC TV, Screen Australia and Screen QLD, winning the Noisy Cat – ‘Best Music Documentary Award’. Teaming up with Director Penny Vozniak, Despite the Gods, about renowned Horror Director Jennifer Lynch, was House of Gary’s second independent feature documentary. It travelled around the world, premiering at Hot Docs, Chicago, Fantasia and Sitges, winning ‘Best Documentary’, ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Comedy’ Awards. 2017 will see the release of House of Gary’s third feature documentary with Penny Vozniak, a Screen Australia Signature funded project about the lives of four real life superheros in the USA and Canada. Teaming up with Isabel Peppard and Josie Hess, the production of Morgana will be her fourth independant film.

Why do we need funding and where will it be used?

We want to remain independent and retain control over this story so that we don't have to hold back any aspects, or be told to tone it down. We want to show Morgana in all her glory. Funds will be used for post-production covering editing, colour grade, sound mix and score.

Head over to our website to check out the designs in more details. Artwork by Tim Molloy, Warren James Borthwick and Dale Keogh

'Morgana’ is an artistic character portrait of a troubled 50 year old housewife, who re-invents herself as a sex-positive feminist porn star after spending 20 years in a loveless, sexless marriage.

Stuck in the suburbs of rural Australia, Morgana is an eccentric woman who struggles to fit into her role as a dutiful housewife and mother. After significant weight gain, she is ridiculed and ignored by her husband and loses her desired status as a ‘trophy wife’. At the age of 47 she finally gets a divorce, but is cast out by her conservative community and left completely alone to drift, nameless and stateless.

Desperately in need of touch and human contact, Morgana hires a male sex worker for one ‘last hurrah’ before ending it all.

After 15 years of loneliness and sexual isolation within her marriage, the encounter ignites a spark within her and she takes control of her life and begins the process of re-constructing her identity.

Risks and challenges

We like to think the biggest challenge is going to be our risque addition to society's understanding of age and sexuality.

However, that risk aside, as experienced filmmakers, we understand the pitfalls of producing an independent documentary like this and how long they can take to complete.

We have already shot 95% of our footage, with just a few pick up shots yet to collect and the creative scenes that Isabel is going to handmake miniatures for. We have a detailed post-production workflow plan that we will oversee, in order to ensure the project won't blow out timeline wise.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge AU$ 10 or more
About US$ 7

Digital Lover - Wallpaper Pack

For ten dollars we will give you the option of having a social media shout out on facebook or twitter + you get a digital wallpaper pack with 3 designs made for desktop computers (MAC & PC + 4:3 or 16:9 ), with work from artists Tim Molloy, Warren James Borthwick and Dale Keogh. We'll also give the option to include your name on our website's supporters page; and you'll gain access to exclusive updates via kickstarter.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge AU$ 15 or more
About US$ 11

Body Lover! Your name, on our body

We will write your name (or username) somewhere on our body and upload the photo to social media to say thanks :) We'll also give you the option to include your name on our website's supporters page; and you'll gain access to exclusive updates via kickstarter.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge AU$ 25 or more
About US$ 18

Film Lover - Digital Download of Film

Access the finished film. You get a link to a digital download of the documentary when it is complete. You also get a digital wallpaper pack for your desktop, featuring artwork by Tim Molloy, Warren James Borthwick and Dale Keogh. We'll also give you the option to include your name on our website's supporters page and you'll gain access to exclusive updates via kickstarter.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge AU$ 35 or more
About $25

Story Lover - Film + Storycard

Get an artifact from the film! You get a story card signed by directors + the digital download of the film + wallapaper pack + we'll also give you the option to include your name on our website's supporters page and you'll gain access to exclusive updates via kickstarter.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge AU$ 35 or more
About $25

Postcard Deluxe - 9 Postcards + Film

9 postcards (3 of each design) + the digital download of the film + wallpaper pack + we'll give you the option to include your name on our website's supporters page and you'll gain access to exclusive updates via kickstarter.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge AU$ 40 or more
About $28

Tote-ally all yours (+film)

You get to choose a tote bag in one of three styles + digital copy of the film + wallpaper pack. We'll also give you the option to include your name on our website's supporters page and you'll gain access to exclusive updates via kickstarter.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge AU$ 45 or more
About $32

DVD Lover - Deluxe DVD of Morgana

We are offering an exclusive DVD deluxe version of the film with booklet and kickstarter bonus scene + postcard set + We'll also give you the option to include your name on our website's supporters page and you'll gain access to exclusive updates via kickstarter.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge AU$ 45 or more
About US$ 32

Doco Lover (+film)

You get the digital download of Morgana when it is finished + Digital Download of Producer Karina Astrup's previous two films, Despite the Gods & 6ft Hick: notes from the underground, once the campaign is wrapped. We'll also give you the option to include your name on our website's supporters page and you'll gain access to exclusive updates via kickstarter.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge AU$ 50 or more
About $35

Kitchen Lover (+film!)

You choose a fabulous custom tea towel, apron or oven mitt (see in rewards section of our Kickstarter page) + magnet + digital download of the film + We'll also give you the option to include your name on our website's supporters page and you'll gain access to exclusive updates via Kickstarter.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge AU$ 75 or more
About US$ 54

Party Lover

Ticket to the cast and crew screening with a free drink upon arrival and opportunity to chat with filmmakers afterwards + digital download of the film + We'll also give you the option to include your name on our website's supporters page and you'll gain access to exclusive updates via kickstarter.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge AU$ 110 or more
About US$ 79

Skype AMA with Directors and Morgana

Skype 'Ask me Anything'. Speak with the Directors and Morgana for half an hour, have all your burning questions answered. Time and date to be at the director's discretion.
+ digital copy of the film + We'll also give you the option to include your name on our website's supporters page and you'll gain access to exclusive updates via kickstarter.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge AU$ 400 or more
About US$ 286

Business sponsorship package

Includes your logo in the films credits, your logo on the website in the 'sponsors' section and social media shout out. Access to screenings (including cast and crew) + digital download of the film. House of Gary Pty Ltd can give a tax deductible invoice for this package.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge AU$ 400 or more
About $284

Art lover trois! Bryn DC

Bryn DC is an incredible photographer and artist from Australia. He is kindly offering 3 lucky backers three HQ A3 prints. The Characters are The Bone Secquelor, Cleanskin, and Yothena Skael, wouldn't they look fantastic on your walls!

The models are Isabel Peppard, Essy May and Izzy Mack. Find more of Bryns work here: http://bit.ly/2v1hQYw

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge AU$ 500 or more
About $355

Original Artwork by Dale Keogh

Original hand drawn in pencil + postcard pack (3 postcards) + digital download of the film + We'll also give you the option to include your name on our website's supporters page and you'll gain access to exclusive updates via kickstarter.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge AU$ 750 or more
About US$ 537

Morgana Lover

Have dinner with Morgana! MELBOURNE ONLY. Dinner, good conversation, and Morgana. This reward will be arranged between Morgana and the backer, dinner will be somewhere in Melbourne's CBD or surrounds at Morgana's discretion. Dinner included up to value of $250

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge AU$ 1,500 or more
About $1,064

Associate Producer

Receive the associate producer credit. Access to the preview screenings (via digital download) and an opportunity to provide feedback + version of the film in format of your choice (DVD/download). + Any rewards of your choice, limited to what’s contained in the mega phoenix.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge AU$ 3,000 or more
About $2,128

Corporate Sponsor

Get your company logo as our sponsor in the opening titles of the movie in all editions: International Festival Release, DVD, VOD Streamed and Digital Download. Plus our Company Sponsor VIP Package, including: Company name included in our Press Kit, featured on our Poster, as a click through logo on our website, featured in social media and all general Marketing Materials. Invite to our exclusive private screening in Melbourne. Plus your own copy of the Deluxe DVD with bonus Kickstarter extras and a digital download of the film.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge AU$ 5,000 or more
About US$ 3,581

Be Art. Garth Knight Art Installation

This unique reward gives ONE lucky backer the opportunity to be tied into a work of art by Australia’s leading Shibari artist. Garth’s work has been exhibited locally and internationally from MONA to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Garth uses the rope both in a decorative sense, to draw the image, as well as psychological, to place the subject and himself into a state of altered or transcendental reality which is reflected in the images. For $5000, you get to be turned into a work of art by Garth (the same experience Morgana had for her 50th birthday) Cost does not include travel and accomodation. Reward will be in conducted in Sydney, Australia.
Timeline for completion will be at the artists discretion. + A digital copy of the film

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge AU$ 6,000 or more
About $4,255

Executive Producer

Executive Producer - Join the team at the executive producer level. You will receive an executive producer credit. Access to the preview screenings (via digital download) and an opportunity to provide feedback + input and suggestions on the marketing and distribution strategy + version of the film in format of your choice (DVD/download) + Any rewards of your choice, limited to what’s contained in the mega phoenix.